No-till November, a USDA NRCS campaign, encourages farmers to park their tillage implements this fall, in favor of keeping crop residue on the soil surface. Using no-till as a system reduces erosion, runoff, and soil moisture evaporation.

A diverse 14-way mix was planted into wheat stubble immediately after harvest to keep living roots in the field. The cover crop is using sunlight and carbon dioxide to put energy and carbon into the soil to feed the soil biology. (Photo by Paul Jasa)

Fields that were hailed, flooded, windblown, or where planting was prevented this season can benefit from the many soil services provided by cover crops. In addition a growing cover crop can help reduce erosion from water and wind and may help protect soil moisture levels.

Figure 1. Planting down the old row and leaving the residue attached can help reduce the potential for wind erosion. Residue movers should not be used as they detach residue, allowing it to be moved by wind or water.

Keeping your soil covered with growing cover crops or crop residue are two of the best ways to help protect it from wind erosion. Both practices will help to keep the wind off the soil surface and reduce soil moisture evaporation, providing a moister soil that's less apt to move.

Figure 1. With almost 100% residue cover, this soil surface is protected from raindrop impact, greatly reducing erosion and crusting. The residue will also reduce evaporation by keeping the sun and wind off the soil surface. (Photos by Paul Jasa)

Crop residue, cover crops, and no-till farming practices can provide a positive buffering effect to changes in climate and extreme weather events. Together they can help keep more water and soil on-farm and contribute to improved soil health.

To avoid compacting more of the field, the grain cart should run down the same row middles as the combine. An auger extension may be needed on the combine to get the wheel tracks to line up. The wheel spacing on the combine, tractor, and grain cart should be adjusted to all run between the rows.

When harvesting higher moisture soybeans, adjustments to your combine and your practices can help minimize challenges in the field, making it easier to achieve a recommended average soil moisture level of 13%.

Figure 1. Some of the six cover crop mixes featured on the Sept. 25 cover crop field day, each planted for a specific purpose. Diversity is important in cover crops to help feed the soil system. (Photo by Paul Jasa)

View six cover crop mixes seeded after wheat harvest, each planted for a specific objective, as well as how fertilizer affects biomass production. See also how planting date affects biomass production. Includes a no-till drill demonstration and various legume cover crops for nitrogen fixation.

Most soybeans are harvested and delivered directly to an elevator instead of being placed in on-farm storage. Soybeans delivered below or above 13% moisture—the elevator standard—lose potential profit. The economics illustrated here show how harvest timing can affect potential income.